AN award-winning conservation project will soon become even more accessible after permission was given to extend a path which runs around it.

School Aycliffe Wetland, which gained a merit award in the best conservation project section of the recent round of Northumbria in Bloom awards, is one of the flagship projects in the Aycliffe Environment Plan.

The land to the north of School Aycliffe is being developed as a wetland conservation area, featuring several ponds, water meadows and marshes.

Water voles, kingfishers and roe deer are among the wildlife which have been spotted in the wetland area.

Great Aycliffe Town Council has given permission to extend the path which runs around the area and is fully wheelchair accessible.

Andrew Bailey, the town council's director of leisure and environment, said: "We asked the council to extend the path to the west, which in effect is carrying on along past the ponds all the way to the end of the boundary and the edge of the houses in the village."

The extended path, which will run in a large loop, will be able to be accessed from two entrance points in School Aycliffe.